10 Years of First Round Draft Picks, Financially

With the 2015 NFL draft now less than a week away, we've taken a detailed look at the past decade of first round selections, walking down the financial paths of each player to formulate an analysis of how each position has faired.

Positional Spending & Trends

The following table displays data for players selected in the first round from the 2005-2014 NFL drafts, organized by position. Here we're showing the number of players drafted, how many remain active in the league, the combined career earnings to date, the average career earnings to date.

In addition, we've followed the paths of these players to track how they've progressed contractually in their careers. Players under Team Control with their Drafted Team represents players who are still with the team that drafted them, and are playing out their rookie contract, tender/option years, or franchise tags.

We've also designated figures for players who have signed long-term extensions with the team that drafted them, players who have been allowed to test free agency, or players that were Released, Traded, or Retired from their drafted team.

Matthew Stafford's $101.6 million leads all quarterbacks drafted in the first round since 2005.

Two to four quarterbacks have been selected in the first round fairly regularly over the past decade, with the exception of 2013, where only E.J. Manuel was drafted by the Bills (and many think that was a reach).

27 quarterbacks have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 23 different colleges from 16 different states, combining for $941,762,943 in total earnings. 8 quarterbacks are still under their rookie contract/tender/tag with the team that drafted him, 6 have been extended, 12 have been released or traded, and 1 has been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 22 of them are still active in the league.

Adrian Peterson's future with the Vikings is largely up in the air. The 30 year old has $45 million remaining on his current contract, running through the 2017 season.

Widely considered a de-valued position across the league, no team has selected a running back in the first round since the 2012 draft. It's been heavily rumored that one, maybe even two backs might find their way into the first round in 2015.

24 running backs have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 20 different colleges from 17 different states. The players have combined for $585,160,392 in total earnings. Of the 24, 1 is still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted him, 8 have been extended, 7 have been released or traded, and 8 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 12 of them are still active in the league.

Quick Facts

Figures based on running backs selected in the first round since 2005.

"Megatron" has out-earned all other first round wide receivers since 2005 by an astonishing $50 million. His contract running through the 2019 season contains another $80.2 million.

Great wide receiver classes seem to come in peaks and valleys, ranging from 0 first rounders in 2008, to 6 in years prior. Recent years trend toward 3-5 being safe bets, including an exceptional class in last year's draft.

36 wide receivers have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 28 different colleges across 21 different states. The players have combined for $695,027,207 in total earnings. Of the 36, 15 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 3 have been extended, 12 have been released or traded, and 6 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 26 of them are still active in the league.

Quick Facts

Figures based on wide receivers selected in the first round since 2005.

Vernon Davis hasn't been pleased with his compensation in recent years, but he's easily earned more than any other tight end selected in the first round since 2005.

9 tight ends have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 9 different colleges across 7 different states. The players have combined for $215,115,662 in total career earnings.

Of the 9, 2 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 4 have been extended, 1 have been released or traded, and 2 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 7 of them are still active in the league.

The top TE for the upcoming 2015 draft isn't projected to be selected until the middle 50's, well out of the first round.

Now 30 years old, the window for the Browns to build a winning team around LT Joe Thomas, the former #3 overall selection in the 2007 draft is slowly closing.

35 offensive tackles have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 22 different colleges from 17 different states. The players have combined for $891,776,796 in total earnings. Of the 35, 14 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 10 have been extended, 7 have been released or traded, and 4 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 29 of them are still active in the league.

Many of the experts have between five and six offensive tackles projecting to be first round picks, almost all toward the end of the round.

The Patriots surprised many when they traded Logan Mankins to the Bucs last August after 9 seasons in New England.

16 offensive guards have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 13 different colleges across 11 different states. The players have combined for $244,545,818 in total earnings. Of the 16, 7 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 2 have been extended, 2 have been released or traded, and 5 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 15 of them are still active in the league.

While 2-3 guards have found their way into the first round over the past four years, it's highly likely that none are taken that high in 2015.

6 offensive centers have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 5 different colleges across 5 different states. These players have combined for $121,096,378 in total earnings.

Of these six centers, two are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 4 have been extended. All 6 are still active in the league, and remain with the team who originally drafted him.

Most mock drafts for the upcoming 2015 draft have one center slotted as a first round selection.

Ndamukong Suh signed one of the biggest contracts in NFL history this free agent season, and leads a list of 22 DTs drafted in the first round over the past ten seasons.

22 defensive tackles have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 19 different colleges from 13 different states. The players have combined for $476,729,398 in total earnings.

Of the 22 selected, 7 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 3 have been extended, 4 have been released or traded, and 8 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 17 of them are still active in the league.

While at least one has been taken in the first round in each of the past ten years, most mock drafts aren't projecting a true defensive tackle to be selected until the middle of the second round.

Quick Facts

Figures based on defensive tackles selected in the first round since 2005.

Bills DE Mario Williams will join the $100M club by the end of the 2015 season. He leads a list of 37 defensive ends selected in the first round since 2005.

37 defensive ends have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 30 different colleges from 23 different states. The players have combined for $711,551,016 in total earnings. Of the 37, 14 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 7 have been extended, 11 have been released or traded, and 5 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 40 of them are still active in the league.

The outside pass rush class for 2015 is extremely deep. Many mock drafts have as much as eight defensive ends being taken in the first round, with another five slated for the second.

Quick Facts

Figures based on defensive ends selected in the first round since 2005.

An impressive 67% of the 49 linebackers selected in the first round since 2005 are still with the team who initially drafted them, with just 5% reaching free agency.

49 linebackers have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 31 different colleges from 25 different states. The players have combined for $955,924,680 in total earnings. Of the 49, 21 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 12 have been extended, 11 have been released or traded, and 5 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 40 of them are still active in the league.

As mentioned above, one of the more prominently deep positions projected near the top of the draft is the outside pass rush, including defensive ends and outside linebackers.

Darrelle Revis has been an anomaly when it comes to working the financial system to maximize annual paychecks. His $85M earned will reach a minimum of $124M by the end of his new deal with the Jets.

38 cornerbacks have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 30 different colleges across 19 different states. The players have combined for $661,305,293 in total earnings. Of the 38, 14 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 6 have been extended, 10 have been released or traded, and 8 have been allowed to hit the free agent open market. In total, 30 of them are still active in the league.

On average, four cornerbacks have been selected in the first round since 2005. Projections say at least eight cornerbacks have first or second round talent, with four slated to be taken on the first day.

First round safeties have been a bit of a risk over the past ten years. Four have been extended, four have hit free agency, two have been traded, and two have been cut.

20 safeties have been selected in the first round since 2005, drafted from 11 different colleges across 10 different states. The players have combined for $428,018,564 in total earnings. Of the 20, 8 are still under their rookie contract with the team that drafted them, 4 have been extended, 4 have been released or traded, and 4 have hit the free agent open market. In total, 17 of them are still active in the league.

While safeties have become hot commodities in the past few drafts and free agent classes, the 2015 class appears on the weaker side, with just one free safety projected to go in the first two rounds.